Cataract surgeries are to be carried out at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital (NAPH) from January, 2019.
This was confirmed on Tuesday by Director of Health Services, Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens, who also told Stabroek News, that presently, supplies are being procured so as to facilitate the commencement of cataract surgeries at the hospital.
The director was quoted as saying, “The Regional Health Services would have made a decision to bring some ophthalmology services back to the New Amsterdam Hospital, we still have one doctor in a department there along with two nurses, so we decided that with the current situation at Port Mourant some supplies and basic equipment is given to the doctor at New Amsterdam to assist in doing cataract surgeries”.
However, he stressed, that the NAPH Ophthalmology Department would not be able to take on the entire regional work load, “Our National Ophthalmology Hospital comes under the purview of the Ministry of Public Health and they are doing everything presently to ensure that that particular service is restored to Port Mourant”.
Questioned for a date as to when cataract surgeries are expected to commence at the National Ophthalmology Hospital located in Port Mourant, Stephens said that questions concerning that hospital should be directed to the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.
However, he stressed, that at the moment the National Ophthalmology Hospital is doing everything except cataract surgeries.
In September, at Region Six’s statutory meeting, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, had suggested that the ophthalmologist stationed at the NAPH be supported so as to clear up the backlog of patients.
Armogan had said, “We have a very good ophthalmologist at the New Amsterdam hospital. If we give that gentleman the requisite drugs to do the surgeries, I think he can do five to six surgeries per day because we have a good ophthalmology theatre at the New Amsterdam Hospital and [a] good doctor there, why not utilise the guy?”
However, back in September, Stephens had claimed that it was not possible since the ophthalmologist was swamped with work.
However, three months later it is the same ophthalmologist, mentioned earlier, who will be conducting the cataract surgeries at the NAPH.
Additionally, Stephens noted, that the installation of the CT scan machine started on December, 4 and is presently ongoing. “We do anticipate in the month of January CT scan services will now be available at the New Amsterdam Hospital”.
In 2016, RAD-AID had presented the Ministry of Public Health with two CT scan machines valued at approximately US$200,000.
The unit placed at New Amsterdam was in storage until the installation process commenced recently.
Meanwhile, a unit has been converted into a new Dental Department at the NAPH also. “I am happy to say that it is now in operation”. “We are now doing all the major oral services including filling, cleaning, root canal and looking at a lot of preventative work”, Stephens was quoted as saying.
